[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 162 (Thursday, November 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OBAMACARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Mrs. Roby) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share some of the stories of 
Alabamians who are being negatively affected by the implementation of 
the Affordable Care Act.
  Over the last several weeks, thousands of health insurance policy 
holders in Alabama have received notice that their plans have been 
canceled or altered, and their costs have risen, some quite 
dramatically. This, despite President Obama's often-repeated and 
unmistakable promise to the contrary.
  He promised of the Affordable Care Act:

       If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your 
     doctor. Period. If you like your health care plan, you will 
     be able to keep your health care plan. Period. No one will 
     take it away, no matter what.

  Mr. Speaker, we now know this wasn't true. To make matters worse, the 
disastrous rollout of the ObamaCare Web site has made it nearly 
impossible for those affected to search for alternatives. The President 
didn't tell the truth, and the Americans who took him at his word are 
paying the price.
  I recently reached out to Alabamians, asking those who have 
experienced health care plan cancelations or rate increases because of 
ObamaCare to tell me their stories. The response has been overwhelming; 
and, Mr. Speaker, I would like to share just a few of those stories 
here in the House this morning.
  Allyson Strickland, a wife and a homeschooling mother of four from 
Dothan writes:

       We are a family of six with one income, and our premiums 
     doubled from $420 to $940 a month. We are already under great 
     financial strain, and this is not helping relieve any of the 
     tension. At this point we are unsure about what we are going 
     to do. With four growing children, we know insurance is 
     vital, but at what cost to the daily needs of our family? We 
     are very disappointed in the Obama administration.

  Shaun Cunningham of Montgomery writes:

       I am a married father of two beautiful little girls. My jaw 
     dropped when I found out my family's premium was going from 
     $400 a month to $722. I called BlueCross first thing Monday 
     morning, but I was told I needed to contact healthcare.gov 
     for assistance. After 6 hours on the phone with them trying 
     to apply for a subsidy, I did manage to find out that there 
     was a cheaper premium. I could choose the Blue Saver Bronze 
     at a rate of $545 per month, which was still an increase over 
     the plan I liked. The other problem? My individual deductible 
     would be $6,350 and my family deductible would be $12,700. I 
     fail to see anything ``affordable'' about this.

  Chris Vuccovich of Montgomery:

       Was notified that my policy was not ACA compliant. Paying 
     $390 for family coverage, just found out comparable plan, 
     ``Silver,'' would be $704, my out-of-pocket went up, so did 
     deductibles and copays. We make too much money and will not 
     qualify for, nor do I want, a subsidy.

  Leigh Hayes Wiatt of Montgomery:

       Our premium went up to $1,374 a month.

  Angela Zacchini of Greenville:

       Our family of four is paying $417 a month, and it is going 
     to $765 a month.

  Jim Harrell of Prattville:

       My doctor retired and told me that he was not going to deal 
     with the changes in the Affordable Care Act. So I could not 
     keep my doctor. Both of my adult daughters got letters 
     indicating their policies were canceled due to not meeting 
     all the requirements of the new law. New policies being 
     issued will be about 33 percent more expensive. One has a 
     specialist doctor who is now going to charge patients a 
     costly fee up front each year, and then pay for services 
     rendered. All of these effects are negative to my family.

  Mr. Speaker, these individuals and families are not statistics. They 
are real people from Alabama's Second Congressional District whose 
lives are being made more difficult because of ObamaCare.
  I don't know why the President repeatedly misled the country about 
the true implications of this health care law. This is the kind of 
Washington doublespeak, political doublespeak, people are so fed up 
with; and this time it is hurting people in a very real way.
  We have an opportunity here in the House this week to make it right 
by acting to protect Americans from these rate hikes and plan 
cancelations. So that is why I am a cosponsor of Keep Your Health Plan 
Act, which will allow health care plans currently being offered to 
continue next year, just like the President promised.

                              {time}  1030

  This bill also ensures that Americans choosing to maintain their 
health care plans will not face a tax penalty under ObamaCare.
  I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Fred Upton of Michigan in 
bringing forth this legislation. The Keep Your Health Plan Act won't 
fix every problem with ObamaCare, but it will offer real changes and 
peace of mind to Americans affected by these changes.
  Mr. Speaker, this isn't a partisan issue. Republicans and Democrats 
alike recognize the basic unfairness that has occurred here. So I urge 
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the Keep Your 
Health Plan Act.

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